CHESHIRE Constabulary could be merged with a larger neighbour after Government inspectors described policing in the county as out-of-date.

And officers in Cheshire accept their future is now under threat.

A report released on Friday, September 16 stated that there should be no forces with fewer than 4,000 officers - Cheshire has just 2,214 and is the 22nd largest of 43 in the country.

The report from Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary said the policing in the UK was not providing the capability to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.

But in a robust response, bosses in Cheshire Constabulary say there is no easy fix solution to delivering greater public confidence in policing.

Peter Nurse, police authority chairman, said: "The Cheshire Police Authority will mount a strong case that the policing of our communities should not be decided and governed from Liverpool or Manchester, although we will be prepared to discuss with other authorities the use of joint arrangements to tackle terrorism and serious crime."

Chief Constable Peter Fahy added: "I am in full agreement that policing needs to change if we are to meet the changing nature of crime and the expectations of the public.

"What is clear is that merely changing structures and creating bigger organisations will not, on its own, create public satisfaction."